Detection device and display device

ABSTRACT

A detection device is capable of detecting an external proximity object, and includes a substrate and a plurality of detection electrodes. The detection electrodes are each provided with a plurality of thin conductive wires having a plurality of first thin wire pieces and a plurality of second thin wire pieces which are electrically conducted with one another. Angles each of which is formed by an intersection between the first thin wire piece extending in a first direction and the second thin wire piece extending in a second direction different from the first direction included in the thin conductive wire, are constant, and a distance between the first thin wire pieces of different thin conductive wires is not constant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Application No.2015-051381, filed on Mar. 13, 2015, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a detection device capable of detectingan external proximity object, and more particularly, to a detectiondevice capable of detecting an external proximity object based on achange in capacitance, and a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, attention has been paid to a detection device referredto as a touch panel capable of detecting an external proximity object.The touch panel is mounted on or integrated with a display device suchas a liquid crystal display device and is used for a display device witha touch detection function. The display device with a touch detectionfunction displays various button images on the display device, therebyenabling input of information using the touch panel instead of ordinarymechanical buttons. The display device with a touch detection function,which includes such a touch panel, does not require an input device suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad, and the use of the display devicetends to increase in a portable information device such as a mobilephone as well as in a computer.

There are several types of touch detection methods, including an opticaltype, a resistance type, and a capacitance type. When a touch detectiondevice of the capacitance type is used in a mobile device and the like,a device having a relatively simple structure and low power consumptioncan be provided. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-openPublication No. 2010-197576 (JP-A-2010-197576) discusses a touch panelin which a transparent electrode pattern is configured to be invisible.

Now, the detection devices capable of detecting an external proximityobject are going to be formed to be thin, have a large screen, or havehigh precision, and accordingly, low resistance of detection electrodesis required. For the detection electrodes, as a material of transparentelectrodes, a transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide(ITO) is used. In order to configure the detection electrodes to havelow resistance, a conductive material such as a metal material may beeffectively used. However, when the conductive material such as themetal material is used, moire may be visually recognized due tointerference between pixels of a display device and the conductivematerial such as the metal material.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.2014-041589 (JP-A-2014-041589) discusses a detection device capable oflowering a possibility of moire to be visually recognized even if adetection electrode made of a conductive material such as a metalmaterial is used. Although the detection device discussed inJP-A-2014-041589 can lower the possibility of the moire to be visuallyrecognized, when visible light is incident, a light intensity pattern,in which light is diffracted or scattered by a plurality of detectionelectrodes, becomes close to a pattern in which a plurality of points oflight are scattered, and the points of light may be visually recognized.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect, a detection device is capable of detecting anexternal proximity object, and includes a substrate and a plurality ofdetection electrodes. The detection electrodes are each provided with aplurality of thin conductive wires having a plurality of first thin wirepieces and a plurality of second thin wire pieces which are electricallyconducted with one another. Angles each of which is formed by anintersection between the first thin wire piece extending in a firstdirection and the second thin wire piece extending in a second directiondifferent from the first direction included in the thin conductive wire,are constant, and a distance between the first thin wire pieces ofdifferent thin conductive wires is not constant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay device with a touch detection function according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris not in contact with or in proximity to a device in order to describea basic principle of a touch detection method of a capacitance type;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit in a state in which the finger is not in contact withor in proximity to the device as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a fingeris in contact with or in proximity to a device in order to describe abasic principle of the touch detection method of the capacitance type;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of anequivalent circuit in a state in which the finger is in contact with orin proximity to the device as illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of waveforms of a drivesignal and a touch detection signal;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module to which thedisplay device with a touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a module to which thedisplay device with a touch detection function is mounted;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of the display device with a touch detectionfunction according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel array of the displaydevice with a touch detection function according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating each configuration example ofdrive electrodes and detection electrodes of the display device with atouch detection function according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an operation example ofthe display device with a touch detection function according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangement of detectionelectrodes according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positionalrelationship between a first end portion and a second end portion of athin wire piece according to a first modification of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a table illustrating moire evaluation with respect to adisplay device with a touch detection function according to the firstmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positionalrelationship between a first end portion and a second end portion of athin wire piece according to a second modification of the firstembodiment;

FIG. 17 is a table illustrating moire evaluation with respect to adisplay device with a touch detection function according to the secondmodification of the first embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangement of a detectionelectrode according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a first modification of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a second modification of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a first modification of the thirdembodiment;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment; and

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detailwith reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited tothe embodiments described below. Components described below include acomponent that is easily conceivable by those skilled in the art andsubstantially the same component. The components described below can beappropriately combined. The disclosure is merely an example, and thepresent invention naturally encompasses appropriate modificationsmaintaining the gist of the invention that is easily conceivable bythose skilled in the art. To further clarify the description, a width, athickness, a shape, and the like of each component may be schematicallyillustrated in the drawings as compared with an actual aspect. However,this is merely an example and interpretation of the invention is notlimited thereto. The same elements as those described in the drawingsthat have already been discussed are denoted by the same referencenumerals throughout the description and the drawings, and detaileddescription thereof will not be repeated in some cases.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay device with a touch detection function according to a firstembodiment. An information processing device 1 is provided with adisplay device with a touch detection function 10, a control unit 11, agate driver 12, a source driver 13, a drive electrode driver 14, and atouch detection unit 40. The display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 is a device in which a liquid crystal display device 20 thatuses a liquid crystal display element as a display element and adetection device 30 of the capacitance type are integrated with eachother. The display device with a touch detection function 10 may be adevice in which the detection device 30 of the capacitance type ismounted on the liquid crystal display device 20 that uses the liquidcrystal display element as the display element. The liquid crystaldisplay device 20 may be an organic electroluminescence (EL) displaydevice, for example.

The liquid crystal display device 20 is a device that performs a displayby sequentially scanning horizontal lines one by one according to a scansignal Vscan to be supplied from the gate driver 12 as will be describedbelow. The control unit 11 is a circuit (control device) that supplies acontrol signal to each of the gate driver 12, the source driver 13, thedrive electrode driver 14, and the touch detection unit 40 based on avideo signal Vdisp supplied from the outside, and controls them so as tooperate in a synchronized manner.

The gate driver 12 has a function of sequentially selecting onehorizontal line that is a target of display drive for the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 based on a control signal suppliedfrom the control unit 11.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies a pixel signal Vpix toeach subpixel SPix, which will be described below, of the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 based on a control signal Vsigsupplied from the control unit 11.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies a drive signalVcom to a drive electrode COML, which will be described below, of thedisplay device with a touch detection function 10 based on a controlsignal supplied from the control unit 11.

The touch detection unit 40 is a circuit that detects presence orabsence of a touch (a contact state or proximity state which will bedescribed below) on the detection device 30 based on a control signalsupplied from the control unit 11 and a touch detection signal Vdetsupplied from the detection device 30 of the display device with a touchdetection function 10. When detecting that there is a touch, the touchdetection unit 40 obtains coordinates thereof or the like in a touchdetection area. The touch detection unit 40 is provided with a touchdetection signal amplification unit 42, an A/D conversion unit 43, asignal processing unit 44, a coordinate extraction unit 45, and adetection timing control unit 46.

The touch detection signal amplification unit 42 amplifies the touchdetection signal Vdet supplied from the detection device 30. The touchdetection signal amplification unit 42 may be provided with a low-passanalog filter that eliminates a high-frequency component (noisecomponent) included in the touch detection signal Vdet, and extracts andoutputs a touch component.

Basic Principle of Touch Detection of Capacitance Type

The detection device 30 outputs the touch detection signal Vdet byoperating based on the basic principle of touch detection of thecapacitance type. The basic principle of touch detection in the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 according to the firstembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 2 isan explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a finger is not incontact with or in proximity to a device in order to describe the basicprinciple of a touch detection method of the capacitance type. FIG. 3 isan explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuitin a state in which the finger is not in contact with or in proximity tothe device as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagramillustrating a state in which a finger is in contact with or inproximity to a device in order to describe the basic principle of thetouch detection method of the capacitance type. FIG. 5 is an explanatorydiagram illustrating an example of an equivalent circuit in a state inwhich the finger is in contact with or in proximity to the device asillustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example ofwaveforms of the drive signal and the touch detection signal.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, capacitive elements C1 and C1′ includea pair of electrodes, i.e., a drive electrode E1 and a detectionelectrode E2 which are arranged to oppose each other with a dielectric Dinterposed therebetween, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 3, thecapacitive element C1 has one end being coupled to an AC signal source(drive signal source) S, and the other end being coupled to a voltagedetector (touch detection unit) DET. The voltage detector DET is anintegration circuit included in the touch detection signal amplificationunit 42 illustrated in FIG. 1, for example.

When an AC rectangular wave Sg having a predetermined frequency (forexample, about several kHz to several hundreds kHz) is applied to thedrive electrode E1 (one end of the capacitive element C1) from the ACsignal source S, an output waveform (the touch detection signal Vdet)appears via the voltage detector DET coupled to the detection electrodeE2 (the other end of the capacitive element C1). This AC rectangularwave Sg corresponds to a touch drive signal Vcomt which will bedescribed below.

In a state in which the finger is not in contact with (or in proximityto) a device (i.e., a non-contact state), current I₀ according to acapacitance value of the capacitive element C1 flows in accordance withcharging and discharging of the capacitive element C1 as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the voltage detector DETconverts a variation in the current I₀ according to the AC rectangularwave Sg into a variation in voltage (a waveform V₀ of the solid line).

On the other hand, in a state in which a finger is in contact with (orin proximity to) a device (i.e., the contact state), a capacitance C2formed by the finger is in contact with or in proximity to the detectionelectrode E2. As a result, a fringe capacitance between the driveelectrode E1 and the detection electrode E2 is eliminated, and thecapacitive element C1′ having a smaller capacitance value than that ofthe capacitive element C1 is generated as illustrated in FIG. 4.Further, current flows in the capacitive element C1′ when seen from theequivalent circuit illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated in FIG. 6, thevoltage detector DET converts a variation in the current I₁ according tothe AC rectangular wave Sg, into a variation in voltage (a waveform V₁of the dotted line). In this case, the waveform V₁ has a smalleramplitude as compared to the waveform V₀ described above. Accordingly,an absolute value |ΔV| of a voltage difference between the waveform V₀and the waveform V₁ is changed according to influence by an object whichapproaches from the outside such as a finger. More preferably, thevoltage detector DET performs an operation with a period “Reset” toreset charging and discharging of the capacitor in accordance with afrequency of the AC rectangular wave Sg by performing switching inside acircuit, so as to accurately detect the absolute value |ΔV| of thevoltage difference between the waveform V₀ and the waveform V₁.

The detection device 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured to performthe touch detection by sequentially scanning detection blocks one by oneaccording to the drive signal Vcom (the touch drive signal Vcomt whichwill be described below) supplied from the drive electrode driver 14.

The detection device 30 is configured to output the touch detectionsignal Vdet for each detection block via the voltage detector DETillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 from a plurality of detection electrodesTDL, which will be described below, and supplies the touch detectionsignal Vdet to the A/D conversion unit 43 of the touch detection unit40.

The A/D conversion unit 43 is a circuit that samples an analog signal,which is output from the touch detection signal amplification unit 42,and converts the sampled analog signal to a digital signal at a timingsynchronized with the drive signal Vcom.

The signal processing unit 44 is provided with a digital filter thatreduces a frequency component (noise component), other than a frequencywith which the drive signal Vcom is sampled, included in an outputsignal of the A/D conversion unit 43. The signal processing unit 44 is alogic circuit that detects presence or absence of a touch on thedetection device 30 based on the output signal of the A/D conversionunit 43. The signal processing unit 44 performs a process of extractingonly a difference voltage generated by a finger. This difference voltagegenerated by the finger is the absolute value |ΔV| of the differencebetween the waveform V₀ and the waveform V₁ described above. The signalprocessing unit 44 may obtain an average value of the absolute values|ΔV| by performing calculation to average the absolute values |ΔV| perone detection block. Accordingly, the signal processing unit 44 canreduce influence caused by the noise. The signal processing unit 44compares the detected difference voltage generated by the finger with apredetermined threshold voltage. When the detected difference voltage isequal to or higher than the threshold voltage, the signal processingunit 44 determines that an external proximity object approaching fromthe outside is in the contact state. When the detected differencevoltage is lower than the threshold voltage, the signal processing unit44 and determines that the external proximity object is in thenon-contact state. In this manner, the touch detection unit 40 candetect a touch.

The coordinate extraction unit 45 is a logic circuit that obtains touchpanel coordinates of a touch when the touch is detected in the signalprocessing unit 44. The detection timing control unit 46 performscontrol such that the A/D conversion unit 43, the signal processing unit44, and the coordinate extraction unit 45 operate in a synchronizedmanner. The coordinate extraction unit 45 outputs the touch panelcoordinates as a signal output Vout.

Module

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams each illustrating an example of a module towhich the display device with a touch detection function is mounted. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the information processing device 1 may includethe above-described drive electrode driver 14 provided on a thin filmtransistor (TFT) substrate 21, which is a glass substrate, when thedisplay device with a touch detection function is mounted to the module.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the information processing device 1 includesthe display device with a touch detection function 10, the driveelectrode driver 14, and a chip on glass (COG) 19A. As schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 7, the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 includes the drive electrode COML and the detectionelectrode TDL formed so as to three-dimensionally cross the driveelectrode COML in a direction perpendicular to a surface of a TFTsubstrate 21 which will be described below. More specifically, the driveelectrode COML is formed in a direction along one side of the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10, and the detection electrodeTDL is formed in a direction along the other side of the display devicewith a touch detection function 10. An output terminal of the detectionelectrode TDL is provided on the other side of the display device with atouch detection function 10, and is coupled to the touch detection unit40 mounted outside of the module via a terminal portion T which isformed using a flexible substrate or the like. The drive electrodedriver 14 is formed on the TFT substrate 21 which is the glasssubstrate. A COG 19A is a chip which is mounted to the TFT substrate 21,and incorporates various circuits required for a display operation suchas the control unit 11, the gate driver 12, or the source driver 13illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the informationprocessing device 1 may include the drive electrode driver 14 which isbuilt in the chip on glass (COG).

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the module of the information processingdevice 1 includes a COG 19B. The COG 19B illustrated in FIG. 8incorporates the drive electrode driver 14 in addition to theabove-described various circuits required for the display operation. Theinformation processing device 1 sequentially scans each one horizontalline at the time of the display operation which will be described below.More specifically, the information processing device 1 performs displayscanning in a direction parallel to one side of the display device witha touch detection function 10. On the other hand, the informationprocessing device 1 sequentially scans each one detection line bysequentially applying the drive signal Vcom to each drive electrode COMLat the time of a touch detection operation. More specifically, theinformation processing device 1 performs touch detection scanning in adirection parallel to the other side of the display device with a touchdetection function 10.

Display Device with a Touch Detection Function

Next, a configuration example of the display device with a touchdetection function 10 will be described in detail below. FIG. 9 is across-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross-sectional structureof the display device with a touch detection function according to thefirst embodiment. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixelarray of the display device with a touch detection function according tothe first embodiment. The display device with a touch detection function10 is provided with a pixel substrate 2, a counter substrate 3 that isarranged so as to oppose the pixel substrate 2 in a directionperpendicular to the surface of the pixel substrate 3, and a liquidcrystal layer 6 that is interposed between the pixel substrate 2 and thecounter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes the TFT substrate 21 as a circuitsubstrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes 22 disposed on the TFTsubstrate 21 in a matrix, a plurality of the drive electrodes COMLformed between the TFT substrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22, and aninsulating layer 24 that insulates the pixel electrodes 22 from thedrive electrodes COML. On the TFT substrate 21, a thin film transistor(TFT) element Tr of each subpixel SPix illustrated in FIG. 10, andwirings such as a signal line SGL supplying the pixel signal Vpix toeach pixel electrode 22 illustrated in FIG. 9, and a scan line GCLdriving each TFT element Tr are formed. In this manner, the signal linesSGL extend on a plane parallel to the surface of the TFT substrate 21,and supply the pixel signal Vpix used for displaying an image in thepixels. The liquid crystal display device 20 illustrated in FIG. 10 hasa plurality of subpixels SPix arranged in a matrix. Each of the subpixelSPix includes the TFT element Tr and a liquid crystal element LC. TheTFT element Tr is configured by a thin film transistor and, in thisexample, is configured by a TFT of the n-channel metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) type. One of a source and a drain of the TFT elementTr is coupled to the signal line SGL, a gate is coupled to the scan lineGCL, and the other of the source and the drain is coupled to one end ofthe liquid crystal element LC. The liquid crystal element LC has one endcoupled to the drain of the TFT element Tr, and the other end coupled tothe drive electrode COML, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, a subpixel SPix and another subpixelbelonging to the same row of the liquid crystal display device 20 arecoupled to each other by the scan line GCL. The scan line GCL is coupledto the gate driver 12, and is supplied with the scan signal Vscan fromthe gate driver 12. A subpixel SPix and another subpixel Spix belongingto the same column of the liquid crystal display device 20 are coupledto each other by the signal line SGL. The signal line SGL is coupled tothe source driver 13, and is supplied with the pixel signal Vpix fromthe source driver 13. Further, the subpixel SPix and another subpixelSpix belonging to the same row of the liquid crystal display device 20are coupled to each other by the drive electrode COML. The driveelectrode COML is coupled to the drive electrode driver 14, and issupplied with the drive signal Vcom from the drive electrode driver 14.In other words, in this example, a plurality of subpixels SPix thatbelong to the same row are configured to share one drive electrode COML.An extending direction of the drive electrode COML according to thefirst embodiment is parallel to an extending direction of the scan lineGCL. The extending direction of the drive electrode COML according tothe first embodiment is not limited thereto, and may be a directionparallel to an extending direction of the signal line SGL, for example.

The gate driver 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 sequentially selects one row(one horizontal line) from among the subpixels SPix formed in a matrixin the liquid crystal display device 20 as a target of the display driveby applying the scan signal Vscan to the gate of the TFT element Tr ofthe pixel Pix via the scan line GCL illustrated in FIG. 10. The sourcedriver 13 illustrated in FIG. 1 supplies the pixel signal Vpix to eachof the subpixels SPix configuring one horizontal line, which issequentially selected by the gate driver 12 via the signal line SGLillustrated in FIG. 10. Further, these subpixels SPix display onehorizontal line in accordance with the supplied pixel signal Vpix. Thedrive electrode driver 14 illustrated in FIG. 1 applies the drive signalVcom, thereby driving the drive electrodes COML for each block that isconfigured by a predetermined number of the drive electrodes COMLillustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device 20, onehorizontal line is sequentially selected as the gate driver 12 performsdriving such that line sequential scanning is performed in a timedivision manner. Further, in the liquid crystal display device 20, thesource driver 13 supplies the pixel signal Vpix to the subpixels SPixbelonging to one horizontal line, whereby each one horizontal line isdisplayed. When this display operation is performed, the drive electrodedriver 14 is configured to apply the drive signal Vcom to a blockincluding the drive electrodes COML corresponding to the one horizontalline.

The drive electrode COML according to the first embodiment serves notonly as a drive electrode of the liquid crystal display device 20 butalso as a drive electrode of the detection device 30. FIG. 11 is aperspective view illustrating a configuration example of the driveelectrodes and the detection electrodes of the display device with atouch detection function according to the first embodiment. The driveelectrodes COML illustrated in FIG. 11 oppose the pixel electrodes 22 ina direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFT substrate 21 asillustrated in FIG. 9. The detection device 30 is configured by thedrive electrodes COML provided in the pixel substrate 2 and thedetection electrodes TDL provided in the counter substrate 3. Thedetection electrodes TDL are configured by stripe-shaped electrodepatterns extending in a direction intersecting with the extendingdirection of the electrode patterns of the drive electrodes COML.Further, the detection electrodes TDL oppose the drive electrodes COMLin the direction perpendicular to the surface of the TFT substrate 21.Each electrode pattern of the detection electrode TDL is coupled to aninput terminal of the touch detection signal amplification unit 42 ofthe touch detection unit 40. The electrode patterns intersecting eachother formed by the drive electrodes COML and the detection electrodesTDL generate electrostatic capacitance in each of the intersectingportions thereof. The detection electrode TDL or the drive electrodeCOML (drive electrode block) is not limited to a stripe-shaped electrodewhich is divided in plural. For example, the detection electrode TDL orthe drive electrode COML (drive electrode block) may have a comb toothshape. Alternatively, the detection electrode TDL or the drive electrodeCOML (drive electrode block) may have any shape as long as being dividedin plural. A shape of a slit that divides the drive electrode COML maybe a straight line or may be a curved line. The detection electrodes TDLmay three-dimensionally cross or oppose the drive electrodes COML in adirection perpendicular to the surface of the TFT substrate 21. Thus,the detection electrodes TDL may be provided in a substrate differentfrom the counter substrate 3.

By employing such a configuration, in the detection device 30, when thetouch detection operation is performed, the drive electrode driver 14drives the drive electrodes COML as a drive electrode block in a timedivision manner so as to perform line sequential scanning, andaccordingly, each detection block of the drive electrode COML issequentially selected in a scan direction “Scan”. Then, the touchdetection signal Vdet is output from the detection electrode TDL. Inthis manner, the detection device 30 is configured to perform touchdetection of one detection block. In other words, the drive electrodeblock corresponds to the drive electrode E1 in the basic principle ofthe touch detection described above, the detection electrode TDLcorresponds to the detection electrode E2, and the detection device 30is configured to detect a touch according to the basic principle. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the electrode patterns intersecting with eachother configures touch sensors of the capacitance type in a matrix.Accordingly, by scanning the whole touch detection face of the touchdetection device 30, a position at which an external object is incontact with or in proximity to the touch detection face can be detectedas well.

The liquid crystal layer 6 is configured to modulate light that passestherethrough in accordance with the state of electric fields thereof. Inthe liquid crystal layer 6, a liquid crystal display device that uses aliquid crystal of a horizontal electric field mode such as a fringefield switching (FFS) or an in-plane switching (IPS) may be employed. Anorientation film may be respectively arranged between the liquid crystallayer 6 and the pixel substrate 2, and between the liquid crystal layer6 and the counter substrate 3 illustrated in FIG. 9.

The counter substrate 3 includes a glass substrate 31 and a color filter32 formed on one face of the glass substrate 31. The detectionelectrodes TDL that are detection electrodes of the detection device 30are formed on the other face of the glass substrate 31, and further, apolarizing plate 35 is disposed on the detection electrodes TDL.

In the color filter 32 illustrated in FIG. 9, color areas of a colorfilter colored in three colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), forexample, are cyclically arranged, and color areas 32R, 32G and 32B (seeFIG. 10) corresponding to the three colors of R, G and B are associatedwith the respective subpixels SPix illustrated in FIG. 10. Thus, thepixel Pix is configured by a set of the color areas 32R, 32G and 32B.The pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix in a direction parallel to thescan lines GCL and a direction parallel to the signal lines SGL, andform a display area Ad which will be described below. The color filter32 opposes the liquid crystal layer 6 in a direction perpendicular tothe TFT substrate 21. In this manner, each subpixel SPix can display asingle color. If the color filter 32 is colored in different colors,color combinations other than the above may be employed. The colorfilter 32 may not be provided. There may be an area in which the colorfilter 32 is not provided, i.e., a subpixel SPix which is not colored.

Subsequently, an operation and action of the display device with a touchdetection function 10 according to the first embodiment will bedescribed.

Since the drive electrode COML serves both as a common drive electrodeof the liquid crystal display device 20 and as a drive electrode of thedetection device 30, there is a possibility that the drive signals Vcominfluence each other. Accordingly, the drive signal Vcom is applied tothe drive electrode COML separately in a display period B during which adisplay operation is performed and in a touch detection period A duringwhich a touch detection operation is performed. In the display period Bin which the display operation is performed, the drive electrode driver14 applies the drive signal Vcom as a display drive signal. On the otherhand, in the touch detection period A in which the touch detectionoperation is performed, the drive electrode driver 14 applies the drivesignal Vcom as a touch drive signal. In the following description, thedrive signal Vcom as a display drive signal will be referred to as adisplay drive signal Vcomd, and the drive signal Vcom as a touch drivesignal will be referred to as a touch drive signal Vcomt.

The control unit 11 supplies control signals to the gate driver 12, thesource driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and the touch detectionunit 40 based on the video signal Vdisp supplied from the outside,thereby performing control such that these units operate in asynchronized manner. In the display period B, the gate driver 12supplies the scan signal Vscan to the liquid crystal display device 20,thereby sequentially selecting one horizontal line as a target of thedisplay drive. In the display period B, the source driver 13 suppliesthe pixel signal Vpix to each of pixels Pix configuring one horizontalline selected by the gate driver 12.

In the display period B, the drive electrode driver 14 applies thedisplay drive signal Vcomd to a drive electrode block relating to onehorizontal line, and in the touch detection period A, the driveelectrode driver 14 sequentially applies the touch drive signal Vcomt toa drive electrode block relating to the touch detection operation,thereby sequentially selecting one detection block. In the displayperiod B, the display device with a touch detection function 10 performsthe display operation based on signals supplied by the gate driver 12,the source driver 13, and the drive electrode driver 14. In the touchdetection period A, the display device with a touch detection function10 performs the touch detection operation based on a signal supplied bythe drive electrode driver 14 and outputs the touch detection signalVdet from the detection electrode TDL. The touch detection signalamplification unit 42 amplifies and outputs the touch detection signalVdet. The A/D conversion unit 43 converts an analog signal output fromthe touch detection signal amplification unit 42 into a digital signalat timing synchronized with the touch drive signal Vcomt. The signalprocessing unit 44 detects presence or absence of a touch on thedetection device 30 based on the output signal of the A/D conversionunit 43. When touch detection is made by the signal processing unit 44,the coordinate extraction unit 45 obtains touch panel coordinatesthereof.

Next, a detailed operation of the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 will be described. FIG. 12 is a timing waveform chartillustrating an operation example of the display device with a touchdetection function according to the first embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 12, the liquid crystal display device 20 performs a display bysequentially scanning each one horizontal line of the scan lines GCL inorder of the (n−1)-th row, the n-th row adjacent thereto, and the(n+1)-th row adjacent thereto out of the scan lines GCL according to thescan signal Vscan supplied from the gate driver 12. Similarly, the driveelectrode driver 14 sequentially supplies the drive signal Vcom to thedrive electrodes COML in order of the (m−1)-th column, the m-th columnadjacent thereto, and the (m+1)-th column adjacent thereto out of thedrive electrodes COML of the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 based on a control signal supplied from the control unit 11.

As described above, in the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10, the touch detection operation (the touch detection periodA) and the display operation (the display period B) are performed in atime division manner for each display horizontal period (1H). In thetouch detection operation, scanning for touch detection is performed byselecting a different drive electrode COML and applying the drive signalVcom to the selected drive electrode for each one display horizontalperiod 1H. The operation will be described in detail below.

First, the gate driver 12 applies the scan signal Vscan to the scan lineGCL of the (n−1)-th row, whereby the scan signal Vscan(n−1) is changedfrom a low level to a high level. Accordingly, one display horizontalperiod 1H is initiated.

Next, in the touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver 14applies the drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the(m−1)-th column, whereby the drive signal Vcom(m−1) is changed from alow level to a high level. This drive signal Vcom(m−1) is transmitted tothe detection electrode TDL through an electrostatic capacitance,whereby the touch detection signal Vdet is changed. Then, when the drivesignal Vcom(m−1) is changed from the high level to the low level, thetouch detection signal Vdet is changed in the same manner. The waveformof the touch detection signal Vdet in the touch detection period Acorresponds to the touch detection signal Vdet of the basic principle ofthe touch detection described above. The A/D conversion unit 43 performsA/D conversion of the touch detection signal Vdet in the touch detectionperiod A to perform the touch detection. Accordingly, the touchdetection of one detection line is performed in the display device witha touch detection function 10.

Next, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies the pixelsignal Vpix to the signal line SGL, thereby performing a display of onehorizontal line. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a change in the pixel signalVpix is transmitted to the detection electrode TDL through a parasiticcapacitance, and accordingly, the touch detection signal Vdet maychange. However, in the display period B, by configuring the A/Dconversion unit 43 not to perform the A/D conversion, the influence ofthe change in the pixel signal Vpix on the touch detection can besuppressed. After the supply of the pixel signal Vpix from the sourcedriver 13 ends, the gate driver 12 changes the scan signal Vscan(n−1) ofthe scan line GCL of the (n−1)-th row from the high level to the lowlevel, and the one display horizontal period ends.

Next, the gate driver 12 applies the scan signal Vscan to the scan lineGCL of the n-th row that is different from the previous row, whereby thescan signal Vscan(n) is changed from a low level to a high level.Accordingly, the subsequent one display horizontal period is initiated.

In the subsequent touch detection period A, the drive electrode driver14 applies the drive signal Vcom to the drive electrode COML of the m-thcolumn different from the previous drive electrode COML. Then, A/Dconversion of a change in the touch detection signal Vdet is performedby the A/D conversion unit 43, whereby touch detection of this onedetection line is performed.

Next, in the display period B, the source driver 13 applies the pixelsignal Vpix to the signal line SGL, thereby performing a display of onehorizontal line. The drive electrode driver 14 applies the display drivesignal Vcomd to the drive electrode COML as a common potential. Thepotential of the display drive signal Vcomd is set to a potential of thelow level of the touch drive signal Vcomt in the touch detection periodA, for example. Since the display device with a touch detection function10 according to the first embodiment performs dot-inversion driving, thepolarity of the pixel signal Vpix applied by the source driver 13 isinverted from that of the previous one display horizontal period. Afterthe display period B ends, this one display horizontal period 1H ends.

Thereafter, by repeating the above-described operations, the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 performs the display operationby scanning the entire display face, and performs the touch detectionoperation by scanning the entire touch detection face.

In the display device with a touch detection function 10, during onedisplay horizontal period (1H), the touch detection operation isperformed in the touch detection period A and the display operation isperformed in the display period B. As described above, since the touchdetection operation and the display operation are performed in differentperiods, both the display operation and the touch detection operationcan be performed during the same one display horizontal period, and theinfluence of the display operation on the touch detection can besuppressed.

Detection Electrode

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangement of the detectionelectrode TDL according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.13, the detection electrode TDL according to the first embodimentincludes a plurality of thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6and ML7, which extend in a direction Da when seen in an overhead view,on a plane parallel to the counter substrate 3. Each of the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7 has a zigzag shape or awaveform, and is folded at coupling portions TDC1, TDC2, TDC3, TDC4 andTDC5. In this manner, the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6and ML7 have the coupling portions TDC1, TDC2, TDC3, TDC4 and TDC5 asbent portions.

The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7 are formed ofthe same material. The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 arecoupled to and conducted with each other via a first conducting portionTDB1 at an end portion ML1 e of the thin conductive wire ML1, an endportion ML2 e of the thin conductive wire ML2, and an end portion ML3 eof the thin conductive wire ML3, respectively. The thin conductive wiresML1, ML2 and ML3 extend so as not to have a portion in which the wiresintersect with each other except for a portion in which the wires arecoupled to each other via the first conducting portion TDB1, and belongto a detection area TDA. The thin conductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7 arecoupled to and conducted with each other via the first conductingportion TDB1 at an end portion ML5 e of the thin conductive wire ML5, anend portion ML6 e of the thin conductive wire ML6, and an end portionML7 e of the thin conductive wire ML7, respectively. The thin conductivewires ML5, ML6 and ML7 extend so as not to have a portion in which thewires intersect with each other except for a portion in which the wiresare coupled to each other via the first conducting portion TDB1, andbelong to the detection area TDA.

A plurality of detection areas TDA are disposed with a constant intervaltherebetween. In the plurality of detection areas TDA, the firstconducting portions TDB1 are coupled to and conducted with each othervia a second conducting portion TDB2. The second conducting portion TDB2is coupled to the touch detection unit 40 illustrated in FIG. 1 via adetection wiring TDG. The first conducting portion TDB1 and the secondconducting portion TDB2 are formed of the same material as that of thethin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7. Theabove-described configuration allows the number of the thin conductivewires to be reduced, and simultaneously allows resistance at the time ofperforming detection to be lowered since the detection is performed on acertain range using a plurality of thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3,ML5, ML6 and ML7. The detection area TDA may include four or more thinconductive wires, or may include one or two thin conductive wires.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the plurality of detection areas TDA arearranged with a constant interval therebetween. Since there is adifference in light shielding property in the detection electrode TDLbetween an area in which the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5,ML6 and ML7 are arranged and an area in which the thin conductive wiresML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7 of the detection electrode TDL are notarranged, the detection electrode TDL may tend to be visible. Thus, onthe counter substrate 3, the thin conductive wire ML4 is arrangedbetween the adjacent detection areas TDA as a dummy electrode that isnot coupled to the detection wiring TDG. The thin conductive wire ML4 ofthe dummy electrode is formed of the same material as that of the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7 of the detectionelectrode TDL. The thin conductive wire ML4 of the dummy electrode maybe formed of a different material as long as the material has the lightshielding property of the same level as that of the thin conductivewires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7.

As described above, the detection electrodes TDL extend in the direction(the direction Da) intersecting with the extending direction of theelectrode patterns of the drive electrodes COML, and can be seen asstripe-shaped electrode patterns as a whole. Since the plurality ofdetection electrodes TDL illustrated in FIG. 13 are arranged in theextending direction of the electrode patterns of the drive electrodesCOML, a portion between the adjacent detection electrodes TDL may be anarea in which the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7are not arranged. Thus, a thin conductive wire, which is the same as thethin conductive wire ML4 of the dummy electrode, may also be arrangedbetween the adjacent detection electrodes TDL.

The thin conductive wire ML1 includes a thin wire piece Ua and a thinwire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML1, the thin wire pieces Uaand Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua, Ub, Ua,Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML1 e in the direction Da. The thinwire pieces Ua and Ub extend in a first direction Fa and a seconddirection Fb, respectively. The extending directions of the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are different from each other. The thin wire piece Uais made of a conductive pattern material and includes a first endportion Ua1 and a second end portion Ua2. The thin wire piece Ub is madeof a conductive pattern material and includes a first end portion Ub1and a second end portion Ub2.

The second end portion Ua2 of the thin wire piece Ua and the first endportion Ub1 of the thin wire piece Ub are coupled to each other so thatthe thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub are conducted witheach other. In the thin conductive wire ML1, the thin wire pieces Ua andUb are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua, Ub, Ua, Ub,Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML1 e in the direction Da. A portion inwhich the second end portion Ua2 and the first end portion Ub1 arecoupled to each other is a coupling portion TDC1. The second end portionUb2 of the thin wire piece Ub and the first end portion Ua1 of the thinwire piece Ua are coupled to each other so that the thin wire piece Uband the thin wire piece Ua are conducted with each other. A portion inwhich the second end portion Ub2 and the first end portion Ua1 arecoupled to each other is a coupling portion TDC2.

The thin wire pieces Ua extend in parallel to one another, and the thinwire pieces Ub also extend in parallel to one another, and thus, anangle θ1 formed between the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire pieceUb, and an angle θ2 formed between the thin wire piece Ub and the thinwire piece Ua are identical to each other. The thin conductive wire ML4of the dummy electrode has an angle, which is formed on a virtual pointTDC6 between an extension line of the thin wire piece Ua and anextension line of the thin wire piece Ub at a divided portion TDDS, andthis angle is the same as the angle θ1. Similarly, an angle, which isformed on a virtual point TDC7 between an extension line of the thinwire piece Ub and an extension line of the thin wire piece Ua, is thesame as the angle θ2.

The thin conductive wire ML2 includes the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML2, the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua,Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML2 e in the direction Da.The thin conductive wire ML2 includes a portion that does not overlapwith the thin conductive wire ML1 when the two end portions ML2 ethereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML1 e of the thinconductive wire ML1. Thus, the thin conductive wire ML2 has a differentshape from that of the thin conductive wire ML1.

The thin conductive wire ML3 includes the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML3, the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua,Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML3 e in the direction Da.The thin conductive wire ML3 includes a portion that does not overlapwith the thin conductive wire ML1 when the two end portions ML3 ethereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML1 e of the thinconductive wire ML1. The thin conductive wire ML3 includes a portionthat does not overlap with the thin conductive wire ML2 when the two endportions ML3 e thereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML2 e ofthe thin conductive wire ML2. Thus, the thin conductive wire ML3 has adifferent shape from those of the thin conductive wire ML1 and the thinconductive wire ML2.

The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 have the same angle θ1 whichis formed between the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub. Thethin conductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 have different lengths of thethin wire pieces Ua that are coupled respectively to the end portionsML1 e, ML2 e and ML3 e, but have the same length of the thin wire piecesUa that are coupled to the thin wire pieces Ub such that one thin wirepiece Ua is interposed between two thin wire pieces Ub. The thinconductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 have different lengths of the thinwire pieces Ub that are directly coupled to the first conducting portionTDB1, but have the same length of the thin wire pieces Ub that arecoupled to the thin wire pieces Ua such that one thin wire piece Ub isinterposed between two thin wire pieces Ua. Accordingly, the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 are different from one another inpositions of the respective coupling portions TDC1 in the direction Da.For example, a difference among the positions of the coupling portionsTDC1 in the direction Da is 1 μm to 15 μm. Similarly, the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 are different from one another inpositions of the respective coupling portions TDC2, TDC3, TDC4 and TDC5in the direction Da.

The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3 may have the thin wire piecesUa of the same length which are coupled respectively to the end portionsML1 e, ML2 e and ML3 e, and have one or more thin wire pieces Ua ofdifferent lengths which are coupled to the thin wire pieces Ub whilebeing interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the thin conductive wiresML1, ML2 and ML3 may be configured different from one another inpositions of the respective coupling portions TDC1, TDC2, TDC3, TDC4 andTDC5.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a distance Wa11 between a thin wire piece Uaof the thin conductive wire ML1 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML2 is different from a distance Wb21 between a thinwire piece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML1 and a thin wire piece Ubof the thin conductive wire ML2. The distance Wb21 is different from adistance Wa31 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML1 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML2. Thedistance Wa31 is different from a distance Wb41 between a thin wirepiece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML1 and a thin wire piece Ub of thethin conductive wire ML2. A distance between the adjacent thinconductive wires ML1 and ML2 is not constant in the direction Da as canbe seen from the distance Wa11, the distance Wb21, the distance Wa31,and the distance Wb41.

Similarly, a distance Wa12 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML2 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML3 is different from a distance Wb22 between a thin wire piece Ub ofthe thin conductive wire ML2 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML3. The distance Wb22 is different from a distance Wa32between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML2 and a thinwire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML3. The distance Wa32 isdifferent from a distance Wb42 between a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML2 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thin conductive wireML3. A distance between the adjacent thin conductive wires ML2 and ML3is not constant in the direction Da as can be seen from the distanceWa12, the distance Wb22, the distance Wa32, and the distance Wb42.

As described above, the thin conductive wire ML4 includes the thin wirepiece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub. The thin conductive wire ML4 of thedummy electrode has the divided portion TDDS, a slit in which there isno conductive metal material, between the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub, and between the thin wire piece Ub and the thin wirepiece Ua. The divided portion TDDS impedes electrical conduction betweenthe thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub, and electricalconduction between the thin wire piece Ub and the thin wire piece Ua,thereby causing a capacitance difference from the detection electrodeTDL. Thus, the influence of the dummy electrode on the absolute value|ΔV| illustrated in FIG. 6 can be reduced at the time of the touchdetection even when a finger is in proximity to both of the thinconductive wire ML3 or the thin conductive wire ML5 and the thinconductive wire ML4 of the dummy electrode. In this manner, since thethin conductive wire ML4 of the dummy electrode includes the dividedportion TDDS, there is a difference in capacitance from the detectionelectrode TDL, thereby reducing the influence on accuracy of the touchdetection.

In the thin conductive wire ML4, the thin wire pieces Ua and Ub arearranged in order of Ua, Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portionML4 e in the direction Da. The thin wire pieces Ua and Ub extend in afirst direction Fa and a second direction Fb, respectively. Accordingly,a difference in the light shielding property can be reduced between thearea in which the detection electrode TDL is arranged and the area inwhich the detection electrode TDL is not arranged, thereby lowering thepossibility that the detection electrode TDL becomes visible.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a distance Wa13 between a thin wire piece Uaof the thin conductive wire ML3 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML4 is different from a distance Wb23 between a thinwire piece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML3 and a thin wire piece Ubof the thin conductive wire ML4. The distance Wb23 is different from adistance Wa33 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML3 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML4. Thedistance Wa33 is different from a distance Wb43 between a thin wirepiece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML3 and a thin wire piece Ub of thethin conductive wire ML4. A distance between the adjacent thinconductive wires ML3 and ML4 is not constant in the direction Da as canbe seen from the distance Wa13, the distance Wb23, the distance Wa33,and the distance Wb43. Further, the distance between the adjacent thinconductive wires ML3 and ML4 is not regular in the direction D1, and isa random value.

The thin conductive wire ML5 includes the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML5, the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua,Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML5 e in the direction Da.The thin conductive wire ML5 includes a portion that does not overlapwith the thin conductive wire ML1 when the two end portions ML5 ethereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML1 e of the thinconductive wire ML1. Thus, the thin conductive wire ML5 has a differentshape from that of the thin conductive wire ML1. For example, the thinconductive wire ML5 has a portion in which each length of the thin wirepieces Ua, Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub arranged in the direction Da isdifferent from each corresponding length of the thin wire pieces Ua, Ub,Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub of the conductive fine line ML1 arranged in thedirection Da.

The thin conductive wire ML6 includes the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML6, the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua,Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML6 e in the direction Da.The thin conductive wire ML6 includes a portion that does not overlapwith the thin conductive wire ML5 when the two end portions ML6 ethereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML5 e of the thinconductive wire ML5. Thus, the thin conductive wire ML6 has a differentshape from that of the thin conductive wire ML5.

The thin conductive wire ML7 includes the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub. In the thin conductive wire ML7, the thin wirepieces Ua and Ub are sequentially coupled to one another in order of Ua,Ub, Ua, Ub, Ua, and Ub, from the end portion ML7 e in the direction Da.The thin conductive wire ML7 includes a portion that does not overlapwith the thin conductive wire ML6 when the two end portions ML7 ethereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML6 e of the thinconductive wire ML6. The thin conductive wire ML7 includes a portionthat does not overlap with the thin conductive wire ML5 when the two endportions ML7 e thereof are overlaid with the two end portions ML5 e ofthe thin conductive wire ML5. Thus, the thin conductive wire ML7 has adifferent shape from those of the thin conductive wire ML5 and the thinconductive wire ML6.

The thin conductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7 have the same angle θ1 whichis formed between the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub. Thethin conductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7 have different lengths of thethin wire pieces Ua that are coupled respectively to the end portionsML5 e, ML6 e and ML7 e, and also have different lengths of the thin wirepieces Ua that are coupled to the thin wire pieces Ub such that one thinwire piece U1 is interposed between two thin wire pieces Ub. In the thinconductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7, lengths respectively obtained byconnecting the first end portion Ua1 of the first thin wire piece Ua andthe second end portion Ua2 of the first thin wire piece Ua with astraight line are randomly different from one another. In the thinconductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7, lengths respectively obtained byconnecting the first end portion Ub1 of the second thin wire piece Uband the second end portion Ub2 of the second thin wire piece Ub with astraight line are randomly different from one another. Accordingly, inthe thin conductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7, positions of the respectivecoupling portions TDC1 are different from one another in the directionDa. For example, a difference among the positions of the couplingportions TDC1 in the direction Da is 1 μm to 15 μm. Similarly, in thethin conductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7, positions of the respectivecoupling portions TDC2, TDC3, TDC4 and TDC5 in the direction Da aredifferent from one another.

Similarly to the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2 and ML3, the thinconductive wires ML5, ML6 and ML7 may have different lengths of the thinwire pieces Ua that are coupled respectively to the end portions ML1 e,ML2 e and ML3 e, but may have the same length of the thin wire pieces Uathat are coupled to the thin wire pieces Ub such that one thin wirepiece Ua is interposed between two thin wire pieces Ub.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, a distance Wa14 between a thin wire piece Uaof the thin conductive wire ML4 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML5 is different from a distance Wb24 between a thinwire piece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML4 and a thin wire piece Ubof the thin conductive wire ML5. The distance Wb24 is different from adistance Wa34 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML4 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML5. Thedistance Wa34 is different from a distance Wb44 between a thin wirepiece Ub of the thin conductive wire ML4 and a thin wire piece Ub of thethin conductive wire ML5. A distance between the adjacent thinconductive wires ML4 and ML5 is not constant in the direction Da as canbe seen from the distance Wa14, the distance Wb24, the distance Wa34,and the distance Wb44. Further, the distance between the adjacent thinconductive wires ML4 and ML5 do not have regularity in the direction Da,and is a random value.

Similarly, a distance Wa15 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML5 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML6 is different from a distance Wb25 between a thin wire piece Ub ofthe thin conductive wire ML5 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML6. The distance Wb25 is different from a distance Wa35between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML5 and a thinwire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML6. The distance Wa35 isdifferent from a distance Wb45 between a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML5 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thin conductive wireML6. A distance between the adjacent thin conductive wires ML5 and ML6is not constant in the direction Da as can be seen from the distanceWa15, the distance Wb25, the distance Wa35, and the distance Wb45.Further, the distance between the adjacent thin conductive wires ML5 andML6 is not regular in the direction Da, and is a random value.

Similarly, a distance Wa16 between a thin wire piece Ua of the thinconductive wire ML6 and a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wireML7 is different from a distance Wb26 between a thin wire piece Ub ofthe thin conductive wire ML6 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML7. The distance Wb26 is different from a distance Wa36between a thin wire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML6 and a thinwire piece Ua of the thin conductive wire ML7. The distance Wa36 isdifferent from a distance Wb46 between a thin wire piece Ub of the thinconductive wire ML6 and a thin wire piece Ub of the thin conductive wireML7. A distance between the adjacent thin conductive wires ML6 and ML7is not constant in the direction Da as can be seen from the distanceWa16, the distance Wb26, the distance Wa36, and the distance Wb46.Further, the distance between the adjacent thin conductive wires ML6 andML7 is not regular in the direction Da, and is a random value.

Each width of the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub ispreferably in the range of 3 μm to 10 μm. This is because, when thewidths of the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub are 10 μm orless, the area of a portion which covers an aperture in which thetransmission of light is not suppressed by a black matrix, or the scanlines GCL and the signal lines SGL in the display area Ad becomessmaller, thereby lowering a possibility that an aperture ratiodecreases. Further, when the widths of the thin wire piece Ua and thethin wire piece Ub are 3 μm or more, a wiring pattern is stable, therebylowering a possibility of disconnection. When the widths of the thinwire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub are smaller than 3 μm, theadjacent thin conductive wires may be coupled to and conducted with eachother to prevent the disconnection from occurring.

The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 of thedetection electrode TDL are formed of a conductive metal material suchas aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium(Cr), tungsten (W), and an alloy of these materials. Alternatively, thethin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 of thedetection electrode TDL may be formed of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu),silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), tungsten (W), or an oxideof these materials (metal oxide), and have conductivity. The thinconductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 may be formed bypatterning a laminated body in which one or more of the above-describedmetal materials and one or more of the above-described metal oxides arelaminated. The thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 andML7 may be formed by patterning a laminated body in which one of more ofthe above-described metal materials or metal oxides, and one or more oftransparent conductive oxides such as indium tin oxide (ITO) as amaterial of the transparent electrode are laminated. The thin conductivewires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 have lower resistance thanthe transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO) as thematerial of the transparent electrode. The material of the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 has a lowertransmittance than a transmittance of indium tin oxide (ITO) in the samefilm thickness. For example, the material of the thin conductive wiresML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 may have a transmittance of 10% orless.

As described above, the pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix in thedirection parallel to the scan lines GCL and the direction parallel tothe signal lines SGL. When the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGLare covered by the black matrix, the black matrix prevents thetransmission of light. When the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGLare not covered by the black matrix, the scan lines GCL and the signallines SGL prevent the transmission of light. A periodic pattern having aplurality of straight lines parallel to the scan lines GCL tends toappear on the display area Ad in the first embodiment. A periodicpattern having a plurality of straight lines parallel to the signallines SGL also tend to appear on the display area Ad. Thus, when thedetection electrodes TDL are overlaid with the surface of the displayarea Ad in the direction vertical to the surface, moire may becomevisible as a bright and dark pattern is formed by the interferencebetween the pattern appearing on the display area Ad and the detectionelectrodes TDL.

In the first embodiment, the adjacent thin conductive wire ML1 and thinconductive wire ML2 are different in shape, and the adjacent thinconductive wire ML3 and thin conductive wire ML4 are different in shape.Since adjacent thin conductive wires among the thin conductive wires M1to M7 are different in shape as described above, angles formed betweeneach of the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7,and the pattern appearing on the display area Ad are different dependingon a position. Therefore, the above-described bright and dark patternbecomes hard to be periodic, thereby lowering the possibility that themoire is visible according to the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, a shape in which the thin conductive wires ML1,ML2, and ML3 are combined by the first conducting portion TDB1, and ashape in which the thin conductive wires ML5, ML6, and ML7 are combinedby the first conducting portion TDB1 are different from each other.Thus, the angles formed between each of the thin conductive wires ML1,ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7, and the above-described pattern appearing onthe display area Ad are different depending on a position. Therefore, inthe detection device according to the first embodiment, theabove-described bright and dark pattern hardly has a periodicity,thereby lowering the possibility that the moire is visible.

In the technique discussed in JP-A-2010-197576, when visible light isincident, a light intensity pattern, in which light is diffracted orscattered by a plurality of detection electrodes, becomes close to apattern in which a plurality of points of light are scattered. Althoughpositions or the number of the scattered points of light of the lightintensity pattern can be changed when a viewer directly tilts thedetection device, it is difficult to eliminate visibility of the pointsof light of the light intensity pattern. In the technique discussed inJP-A-2010-197576, angles formed between adjacent thin wire piece a andthin wire piece b are random. Thus, when a viewer directly tilts thedetection device, diffraction or scattering tends to be newly caused andthe scattered points of light of the light intensity pattern tend toappear.

On the other hand, the angle θ1 and the angle θ2 formed between theadjacent thin wire piece a and thin wire piece b are constant in theentire part of one thin conductive wire of the thin conductive wiresML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 according to the first embodiment.Thus, when visible light is incident on the thin conductive wires ML1,ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7, a light intensity pattern in whichlight is diffracted or scattered becomes hard to spread in each of thethin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7. Thus, thelight intensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered tendsto gather in four directions in each of the thin conductive wires ML1,ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7, and a constant directivity is likely toappear. Further, when a viewer directly tilts the detection deviceaccording to the first embodiment, it becomes easy to avoid forming anangle by which the light intensity pattern tends to appear. As a result,the light intensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered ineach of the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7becomes hard to be visible.

As described above, the detection device according to the firstembodiment is capable of detecting the external proximity object, andincludes the counter substrate 3 and the detection electrodes TDL. Thedetection electrode TDL includes the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2,ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7. Each of the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2,ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7 includes the first thin wire pieces Ua, each ofwhich connects the first end portion Ua1 and the second end portion Ua2with a straight line and the second thin wire pieces Ub, each of whichconnects the first end portion Ub1 and the second end portion Ub2 with astraight line. The first thin wire pieces Ua and the second thin wirepieces Ub are made of a metal material. In each of the thin conductivewires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML5, ML6 and ML7, the first thin wire pieces Ua andthe second thin wire pieces Ub are sequentially connected by couplingone of the first thin wire pieces Ua and one of the second thin wirepieces Ub to each other with the coupling portion, and extend in adirection parallel to the surface of the counter substrate 3. Further,the angle θ1 or the angle θ2, formed by a first direction Fa in whichone of the first thin wire pieces Ua extends and a second direction Fbin which one of the second thin wire pieces Ub extends intersecting witheach other, the direction different from the first direction Fa isconstant in the entire part of one thin conductive wire. A distancebetween adjacent first thin wire pieces Ua of different thin conductivewires is not constant. Accordingly, at least a distance between adjacenttwo wires among a plurality of adjacent thin conductive wires isdifferent from a distance between other adjacent two wires.

As a result, the bright and dark pattern becomes hard to be periodic,and thereby lowering the possibility that the moire is visible. Thelight intensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered in thedetection electrodes TDL becomes hard to be visible.

Further, in addition to the above configuration, it is preferable thateach of the angle θ1 or the angle θ2 formed in the thin conductive wiresincluded in the detection electrode TDL be constant. According to such aconfiguration, it is possible to suppress the visibility of the moire,and also suppress the visibility of the glare, caused by the lightintensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered by thedetection electrodes TDL.

When each distance between the adjacent first thin wire pieces Ua is setto be randomly different depending on a position in a predetermineddirection (the direction Da), the bright and dark pattern becomes hardto be periodic, thereby lowering the possibility that the moire isvisible.

As described above, the display device with a touch detection function10 includes the plurality of pixel electrodes 22 provided in the displayarea Ad, and the drive electrode COML which is provided to oppose thepixel electrode 22 and divided in plural. In the display period B inwhich the display operation is performed, the control unit 11 applies adisplay drive voltage between each of the pixel electrodes 22 and thedrive electrode COML based on the video signal Vdisp. In the touchdetection period A in which the touch detection operation is performed,the control unit 11 selects and scans the drive electrode COML to whichthe drive signal is supplied among the plurality of drive electrodesCOML, thereby allowing the touch detection unit 40 to detect theexternal proximity object based on a change in capacitance of thedetection electrodes TDL.

First Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positionalrelationship between a first end portion and a second end portion of athin wire piece according to a first modification of the firstembodiment. According to the first modification of the first embodiment,extending directions of the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire pieceUb are defined by the array of the pixels Pix in the detection electrodeTDL as illustrated in FIG. 13. More specifically, the extendingdirections of the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub aredefined by angles formed with respect to a pixel array direction Dyillustrated in FIG. 14. The direction Da in which the detectionelectrodes TDL extend is parallel to the pixel array direction Dyillustrated in FIG. 14.

The pixel array direction Dy and a pixel orthogonal direction Dxillustrated in FIG. 14. As described above, the display area Ad includesthe plurality of pixels Pix in which the color areas 32R, 32G and 32Bare associated with the respective subpixels SPix, and the color areas32R, 32G and 32B are included as one set. The pixels Pix are arranged ina matrix in the direction parallel to the scan lines GCL and thedirection parallel to the signal lines SGL. In the pixel Pix, the colorareas 32R, 32G and 32B are arranged so as to be adjacent to one anotherwith the scan lines GCL interposed therebetween.

The pixel array direction Dy is a direction in which a color areaexhibiting highest human visibility is arranged. The pixel orthogonaldirection Dx is a direction orthogonal to the pixel array direction Dyon the plane parallel to the surface of the counter substrate 3. A colorwhich exhibits the highest human visibility among the three colors of R(red), G (green), and B (blue) is G (green). Since the color area 32G isarranged in the direction parallel to the signal lines SGL in FIG. 14,the pixel array direction Dy is the direction parallel to the signallines SGL in the first modification of the first embodiment.

To describe the relative positional relationship between the first endportion Ub1 and the second end portion Ub2 of the thin wire piece Ub,assume that an arbitrary point among the intersections of the scan linesGCL and the signal lines SGL is the origin P00 in FIG. 14, and xycoordinates are defined by setting coordinates of the origin P00 as (0,0). The x-axis is arranged in a direction parallel to the pixelorthogonal direction Dx, and the y-axis is arranged in a directionparallel to the pixel array direction Dy. A maximum length of one pixelPix in the x direction is regarded as a unit length in the x direction,and a maximum length of one pixel Pix in the y direction is regarded asa unit length in the y direction. The maximum length of one pixel Pix inthe x direction is a first unit length Lx1, and the maximum length ofone pixel Pix in the y direction is a second unit length Ly1. Forexample, a ratio between the first unit length Lx1 and the second unitlength Ly1 according to the first modification of the first embodimentis 1:1.

The coordinates of a given point are, for example, (1, 1), where thefirst coordinate represents a point the first unit length Lx1 from theorigin P00 in the x direction and the second coordinate represents apoint the second unit length Ly1 from the origin P00 in the y direction.In the xy coordinates, a point P01 is a point with coordinates of (0,1). A point P15 is a point with coordinates of (1, 5). A point P14 is apoint with coordinates of (1, 4). A point P13 is a point withcoordinates of (1, 3). A point P12 is a point with coordinates of (1,2). A point P35 is a point with coordinates of (3, 5). A point P23 is apoint with coordinates of (2, 3). A point P34 is a point withcoordinates of (3, 4). A point P45 is a point with coordinates of (4,5). A point P56 is a point with coordinates of (5, 6). A point P11 is apoint with coordinates of (1, 1). A point P65 is a point withcoordinates of (6, 5). A point P54 is a point with coordinates of (5,4). A point P43 is a point with coordinates of (4, 3). A point P32 is apoint with coordinates of (3, 2). A point P53 is a point withcoordinates of (5, 3). A point P21 is a point with coordinates of (2,1). A point P31 is a point with coordinates of (3, 1). A point P41 is apoint with coordinates of (4, 1). A point P51 is a point withcoordinates of (5, 1). A point P10 is a point with coordinates of (1,0).

Evaluation Example Relating to Angle with Respect to Pixel ArrayDirection Dy

Assuming that the first end portion Ub1 of the thin wire piece Ub ispositioned at the point P00, an evaluation on visibility of moire hasbeen performed by changing a direction at which the second end portionUb2 is positioned.

Evaluation results will be described below as Evaluation Examples 1 to21 illustrated in FIG. 15.

Evaluation

In the moire evaluation, how the moire on display images of the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 corresponding to EvaluationExamples 1 to 21 is recognized by human eyes is evaluated as fourgrades. More specifically, as a criterion for the moire evaluation,“EXCELLENT” is given to a case in which the moire is hardly visible evenwhen a distance between the surface of the display device with a touchdetection function 1 and the human eye is less than 30 cm. As acriterion for the moire evaluation, “GOOD” is given to a case in whichthe moire is hardly visible when a distance between the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 and the human eye is equal to or morethan 30 cm. As a criterion for the moire evaluation, “FAIR” is given toa case in which the moire is hardly visible when a distance between thedisplay device with a touch detection function 10 and the human eye isequal to or more than 60 cm. Further, as a criterion for the moireevaluation, “POOR” is given to a case in which the moire is visible evenwhen a distance between the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 and the human eye is equal to or more than 60 cm.

In Evaluation Examples 6 to 10 and 12 to 16, the second end portion Ub2of the thin wire piece Ub is positioned in a direction toward a targetposition from the first end portion Ub1. This target position isseparated from the first end portion Ub1 by two or more times (integermultiple) of the first unit length Lx1 in the pixel orthogonal directionDx, and by two or more times (integer multiple) of the second unitlength Ly1 in the pixel array direction Dy. Evaluation Examples 6 to 10and 12 to 16 satisfy a first condition that a value of an integermultiple of the first unit length Lx1 and a value of an integer multipleof the second unit length Ly1 are different from each other. Further,Evaluation Examples 6 to 10 and 12 to 16 satisfy a condition that anextending direction of the thin wire piece Ub forms an angle of largerthan 27 degrees and smaller than 45 degrees, or an angle of larger than45 degrees and smaller than 63 degrees with respect to the pixel arraydirection Dy. Further, the thin conductive wire according to the firstmodification of the first embodiment satisfying the first condition isevaluated as “EXCELLENT”, “GOOD” and “FAIR” in the moire evaluation ofEvaluation Examples 6 to 10 and 12 to 16 as illustrated in FIG. 15, andthe visibility of the moire is suppressed in these examples.

Evaluation Examples 6, 8 to 10, 12 to 14, and 16 satisfy a secondcondition that a value of an integer multiple of the first unit lengthLx1 and a value of an integer multiple of the second unit length Ly1 areequal to or larger than 3. Further, Evaluation Examples 6, 8 to 10, 12to 14, and 16, which satisfy the second condition, are evaluated as“EXCELLENT” or “GOOD” in the moire evaluation, and the visibility of themoire is further suppressed in these examples.

Evaluation Examples 8 to 10 and 12 to 14 satisfy a third condition thata difference between a value of an integer multiple of the first unitlength Lx1 and a value of an integer multiple of the second unit lengthLy1 is 1. Further, each case of Evaluation Examples 8 to 10 and 12 to 14is evaluated as “EXCELLENT” in the moire evaluation, and the visibilityof the moire is further suppressed in these examples.

As described above, the pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix in thedirection parallel to the scan lines GCL and in the direction parallelto the signal lines SGL. When the scan lines GCL and the signal linesSGL are covered by the black matrix, the black matrix prevents thetransmission of light. When the scan lines GCL and the signal lines SGLare not covered by the black matrix, the scan lines GCL and the signallines SGL prevent the transmission of light. A periodic pattern having aplurality of straight lines parallel to the pixel orthogonal directionDx and extending in a direction parallel to the scan lines GCL tends toappear on the display area Ad in the first modification of the firstembodiment. A periodic pattern having a plurality of straight linesparallel to the pixel array direction Dy and extending in a directionparallel to the signal lines SGL also tends to appear on the displayarea Ad. Thus, when the detection electrodes TDL are overlaid with thesurface of the display area Ad in the direction vertical to the surface,moire may become visible as a bright and dark pattern is formed by theinterference between the pattern appearing on the display area Ad andthe detection electrodes TDL.

In the first modification of the first embodiment, the thin conductivewires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 each include the thin wirepiece Ub that satisfies the first condition, and thus, a periodicity inthe bright and dark pattern becomes short to a degree that a humanhardly recognizes. For example, the thin wire piece Ub extends in adirection having an angle with respect to the pixel orthogonal directionDx and the pixel array direction Dy. When the first condition issatisfied, the angle is equal to or larger than a certain value, andthus the periodicity in the bright and dark pattern tends to be short.As a result, the possibility that the moire is visible can be lowered bythe thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 eachincluding the thin wire piece Ub that satisfies the first condition.Further, when the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub satisfythe first condition, the possibility that the moire is visible can belowered.

The thin wire piece Ub extends in a direction having an angle withrespect to the pixel array direction Dy, and a tangent of the angle isin the range of values larger than a value obtained by dividing thefirst unit length Lx1 by twice the second unit length Ly1, and smallerthan a value obtained by dividing twice the first unit length Lx1 by thesecond unit length Ly1, and is different from a value obtained bydividing the first unit length Lx1 by the second unit length Ly1. Thus,the angle formed in the extending direction of the thin wire piece Ubwith respect to the pixel orthogonal direction Dx and the pixel arraydirection Dy is equal to or larger than a certain value, and theperiodicity of the bright and dark pattern tends to be short. As aresult, the display device with a touch detection function 10 accordingto the first modification of the first embodiment is capable of loweringthe possibility that the moire is visible.

When the detection electrodes TDL and the drive electrodes COML areformed using a conductive material such as a metal material,electrolytic corrosion may be generated. Thus, in the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 according to the first embodiment,the detection electrodes TDL and the drive electrodes COML arepositioned on different planes in the vertical direction of the glasssubstrate 31 with the glass substrate 31 interposed therebetween.Accordingly, the display device with a touch detection function 10according to the first embodiment is capable of preventing thegeneration of electrolytic corrosion. Further, the drive electrodes COMLare preferably formed of a translucent material. Accordingly, it ispossible to lower the possibility that the moire is visible caused bythe interference between the detection electrodes TDL and the driveelectrodes COML.

Further, the drive electrodes COML are arranged on the TFT substrate 21opposing the surface of the glass substrate 31 in the verticaldirection. When the surface of the glass substrate 31 and the driveelectrodes COML are separated from each other in a directionperpendicular to the surface of the glass substrate 31, a differencebetween a periodicity of the pattern that appears on the display area Adand that of the arrangement of the drive electrodes COML is changedaccording to an angle at which the human looks at the surface of theglass substrate 31. However, by disposing the drive electrodes COML onthe TFT substrate 21, it is possible to diminish the change in thedifference between the periodicity of the pattern appearing on thedisplay area Ad and that of the arrangement of the drive electrodes COMLaccording to the angle at which the human looks at the surface of theglass substrate 31. The drive electrodes COML according to the firstembodiment are arranged so as to extend in the pixel array direction Dyor the pixel orthogonal direction Dx described above. Accordingly, thedrive electrodes COML extend in the direction parallel to the scan linesGCL or in the direction parallel to the signal lines SGL, therebylowering the possibility that the aperture ratio decreases.

Second Modification of First Embodiment

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relative positionalrelationship between a first end portion and a second end portion of athin wire piece according to a second modification of the firstembodiment. According to the second modification of the firstembodiment, in the detection electrode TDL, extending directions of thethin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub are defined by the arrayof the pixels Pix, as illustrated in FIG. 13. More specifically, theextending directions of the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire pieceUb are defined by angles formed with respect to a pixel array directionDy illustrated in FIG. 16. The direction Da in which the detectionelectrode TDL extends is the same as the pixel array direction Dyillustrated in FIG. 16.

The following describes the pixel array direction Dy and a pixelorthogonal direction Dx illustrated in FIG. 16. As described above, thedisplay area Ad includes the plurality of pixels Pix in which the colorareas 32R, 32G, 32B, and 32W are associated with the respectivesubpixels SPix, and the color areas 32R, 32G, 32B, and 32W are includedas one set. The plurality of pixels Pix are arranged in a matrix in thedirection parallel to the scan lines GCL and the direction parallel tothe signal lines SGL. In the pixel Pix, the color areas 32R, 32G, 32B,and 32W are arranged so as to be adjacent to one another with the scanlines GCL interposed therebetween.

The pixel array direction Dy is a direction in which a color areaexhibiting the highest human visibility is arranged. A color with thehighest human visibility among four colors of R (red), G (green), B(blue), and W (while) is W (while). Since the color area 32W is arrangedin a direction parallel to the signal lines SGL in FIG. 16, the pixelarray direction Dy is the direction parallel to the signal lines SGL.

To describe the relative positional relationship between the first endportion Ub1 and the second end portion Ub2 of the thin wire piece Ub,assume that an arbitrary point among the intersections of the scan linesGCL and the signal lines SGL is set as an origin point Q00 in FIG. 16,and xy coordinates are defined by setting coordinates of the origin Q00as (0, 0). The x-axis is arranged in a direction parallel to the pixelorthogonal direction Dx, and the y-axis is arranged in a directionparallel to the pixel array direction Dy. A maximum length of one pixelPix in the x direction is regarded as a unit length in the x direction,and a maximum length of one pixel Pix in the y direction is regarded asa unit length in the y direction. The maximum length of one pixel Pix inthe x direction is a first unit length Lx2, and the maximum length ofone pixel Pix in the y direction is a second unit length Ly2. Forexample, a ratio between the first unit length Lx2 and the second unitlength Ly2 according to the second modification of the first embodimentis 4:3.

The coordinates of a given point are, for example, (1, 1), where thefirst coordinate represents a point the first unit length Lx2 from theorigin Q00 in the x direction and the second coordinate represents apoint the second unit length Ly2 from the origin Q00 in the y direction.In the xy coordinates, a point Q01 is a point with coordinates of (0,1). A point Q15 is a point with coordinates of (1, 5). A point Q14 is apoint with coordinates of (1, 4). A point Q13 is a point withcoordinates of (1, 3). A point Q12 is a point with coordinates of (1,2). A point Q35 is a point with coordinates of (3, 5). A point Q23 is apoint with coordinates of (2, 3). A point Q34 is a point withcoordinates of (3, 4). A point Q45 is a point with coordinates of (4,5). A point Q56 is a point with coordinates of (5, 6). A point Q11 is apoint with coordinates of (1, 1). A point Q65 is a point withcoordinates of (6, 5). A point Q54 is a point with coordinates of (5,4). A point Q43 is a point with coordinates of (4, 3). A point Q32 is apoint with coordinates of (3, 2). A point Q53 is a point withcoordinates of (5, 3). A point Q21 is a point with coordinates of (2,1). A point Q31 is a point with coordinates of (3, 1). A point Q41 is apoint with coordinates of (4, 1). A point Q51 is a point withcoordinates of (5, 1). A point Q10 is a point with coordinates of (1,0).

Evaluation Example Relating to Angle with Respect to Pixel ArrayDirection Dy

Assuming that the first end portion Ub1 of the thin wire piece Ub ispositioned at the point Q00, an evaluation on visibility of moire hasbeen performed by changing a direction at which the second end portionUb2 is positioned.

Evaluation results will be described below as Evaluation Examples 22 to42 illustrated in FIG. 17.

Evaluation

In the moire evaluation, how the moire on display images of the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 corresponding to EvaluationExamples 22 to 42 is recognized by human eyes is evaluated as fourgrades. More specifically, as a criterion for the moire evaluation,“EXCELLENT” is given to a case in which the moire is hardly visible evenwhen a distance between the surface of the display device with a touchdetection function 10 and the human eye is less than 30 cm. As acriterion for the moire evaluation, “GOOD” is given to a case in whichthe moire is hardly visible when a distance between the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 and the human eye is equal to or morethan 30 cm. As a criterion for the moire evaluation, “FAIR” is given toa case in which the moire is hardly visible when a distance between thedisplay device with a touch detection function 10 and the human eye isequal to or more than 60 cm. Further, as a criterion for the moireevaluation, “POOR” is given to a case in which the moire is visible evenwhen a distance between the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10 and the human eye is equal to or more than 60 cm.

In Evaluation Examples 27 to 31 and 33 to 37, the second end portion Ub2of the thin wire piece Ub is positioned in a direction toward a targetposition from the first end portion Ub1. This target position isseparated from the first end portion Ub1 by two or more times (integermultiple) of the first unit length Lx2 in the pixel orthogonal directionDx and by two or more times (integer multiple) of the second unit lengthLy2 in the pixel array direction Dy, and satisfies a first conditionthat a value of an integer multiple of the first unit length Lx2 and avalue of an integer multiple of the second unit length Ly2 are differentfrom each other. Further, each case of Evaluation Examples 27 to 31 and33 to 37 is evaluated as “EXCELLENT”, “GOOD” and “FAIR” in the moireevaluation, and the visibility of the moire is suppressed in theseexamples.

Evaluation Examples 27, 29 to 31, 33 to 35, and 37 satisfy a secondcondition that a value of an integer multiple of the first unit lengthLx2 and a value of an integer multiple of the second unit length Ly2 are3 or larger. Further, Examples 27, 29 to 31, 33 to 35, and 37 areevaluated as “EXCELLENT” or “GOOD” in the moire evaluation, and thevisibility of the moire is further suppressed in these examples.

Evaluation Examples 29 to 31 and 33 to 35 satisfy a third condition thata difference between a value of an integer multiple of the first unitlength Lx2 and a value of an integer multiple of the second unit lengthLy2 is 1. Each case of Evaluation Examples 29 to 31 and 33 to 35 isevaluated as “EXCELLENT” in the moire evaluation, and the visibility ofthe moire is further suppressed in these examples.

In the second modification of the first embodiment, since the thinconductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 and ML7 each include thethin wire piece Ub that satisfies the second condition, a periodicity ofthe bright and dark pattern tends to be short to a degree that a humancannot recognize. For example, the thin wire piece Ub extends in adirection having an angle with respect to the pixel orthogonal directionDx and the pixel array direction Dy. When the second condition issatisfied, the angle is equal to or larger than a certain value, andthus the periodicity in the bright and dark pattern tends to be short.As a result, the thin conductive wires ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, ML5, ML6 andML7 each include the thin wire piece Ub that satisfies the secondcondition, thereby lowering the possibility that the moire is visible.When the thin wire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub satisfy thesecond condition, the possibility that the moire is visible can belowered.

The thin wire piece Ub extends in a direction having an angle withrespect to the pixel array direction Dy, and a tangent of the angle isin a range of values larger than a value obtained by dividing the firstunit length Lx2 by twice the second unit length Ly2, and smaller than avalue obtained by dividing twice the first unit length Lx2 by the secondunit length Ly2, and is different from a value obtained by dividing thefirst unit length Lx2 by the second unit length Ly2. Thus, the angle ofthe extending direction of the thin wire piece Ub formed with respect tothe pixel orthogonal direction Dx or the pixel array direction Dy isequal to or larger than the certain value, and the periodicity of thebright and dark pattern tends to be short. As a result, the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 according to the secondmodification of the first embodiment is capable of lowering thepossibility that the moire is visible.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a second embodiment. The detectionelectrode TDL according to the second embodiment includes the thin wirepieces Ua and the thin wire pieces Ub which extend so as to have partswhere the coupling portions are connected to one another asintersections on a plane parallel to the counter substrate 3. The thinwire piece Ua extends in the first direction Fa, and the thin wire pieceUb extends in the second direction Fb. The extending directions of thethin wire pieces Ua and Ub are different from each other. The thin wirepiece Ua is interposed between the coupling portions TDC. Similarly, thethin wire piece Ub is interposed between the coupling portions TDC. Inother words, the detection electrode TDL according to the secondembodiment includes mesh-like thin conductive wires that have a zigzagshape or a waveform and that are folded at the coupling portions. In thesecond embodiment, the dummy electrode is not described, but the dummyelectrode may be provided similarly to the first embodiment. The samereference numerals are denoted for the same constituent components asthose described in the first embodiment, and the detailed descriptionthereof will be omitted.

Since the thin wire pieces Ua extend in parallel to one another and thethin wire pieces Ub also extend in parallel to one another, the thinwire pieces Ua and Ub intersect with each other forming an angle θ1therebetween.

A distance Wa11 between a thin wire piece Ua and its adjacent thin wirepiece Ua is different from a distance Wa12 between the adjacent thinwire piece Ua and another thin wire piece Ua adjacent to the adjacentthin wire piece Ua. The distance between the adjacent two thin wirepieces Ua is not constant in the second direction Fb as can be seen fromthe distance Wa11, the distance Wa12, a distance Wa13, and a distanceWa14.

Similarly, a distance Wa21 between a thin wire piece Ua and its adjacentthin wire piece Ua is different from a distance Wa22 between theadjacent thin wire piece Ua and another thin wire piece Ua adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Ua. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Ua is not constant in the second direction Fb as can beseen from the distance Wa21, the distance Wa22, a distance Wa23, adistance Wa24, and a distance Wa25. Further, the distance between theadjacent two thin wire pieces Ua is not regular but is a random value inthe second direction Fb as described above.

A distance Wb11 between a thin wire piece Ub and its adjacent thin wirepiece Ub is different from a distance Wb12 between the adjacent thinwire piece Ub and another thin wire piece Ub adjacent to the adjacentthin wire piece Ub. A distance between the two adjacent thin wire piecesUb is not constant in the first direction Fa as can be seen from thedistance Wb11 and the distance Wb12.

Similarly, a distance Wb21 between a thin wire piece Ub and its adjacentthin wire piece Ub is different from a distance Wb22 between theadjacent thin wire piece Ub and another thin wire piece Ub adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Ub. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Ub is not constant in the first direction Fa as can beseen from the distance Wb21 and the distance Wb22, a distance Wb23, anda distance Wb24. As described above, the distance between the adjacenttwo thin wire pieces Ub is not regular but is a random value in thefirst direction Fa.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the bright and dark pattern becomeshard to have a periodicity, thereby lowering the possibility that themoire is visible in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, theangle θ1 formed between the adjacent thin wire piece a and thin wirepiece b is constant. Thus, when the visible light is incident on thedetection electrodes TDL, the light intensity pattern in which light isdiffracted or scattered by the detection electrodes TDL becomes hard tospread. Thus, the light intensity pattern tends to gather in fourdirections, and a constant directivity is likely to appear. Further,when a viewer directly tilts the detection device according to thesecond embodiment, it becomes easy to avoid forming an angle by whichthe light intensity pattern tends to appear. As a result, the lightintensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered by thedetection electrodes TDL becomes hard to be visible.

First Modification of Second Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a first modification of the secondembodiment. The same reference numerals are denoted for the sameconstituent components as those described in the above-described firstand second embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will beomitted.

The distance Wa11 and the distance Wa21 are the same in the secondembodiment, but a distance Wa11 and a distance Wa22 are different fromeach other in the first modification of the second embodiment. Thedistance Wb11 and the distance Wb22 are the same in the secondembodiment, but a distance Wb11 and a distance Wb21 are different fromeach other in the first modification of the second embodiment. In thismanner, a distance between the two adjacent thin wire pieces Ua is notconstant in the second direction Fb. A distance between the two adjacentthin wire pieces Ub is not constant in the first direction Fa.

The detection electrode according to the first modification of thesecond embodiment achieves the same effects as the detection electrodeTDL according to the second embodiment.

Second Modification of Second Embodiment

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a second modification of the secondembodiment. The same reference numerals are denoted for the sameconstituent components as those described in the above-described firstand second embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will beomitted.

In the detection electrode TDL according to the second embodiment, thenumber of the thin wire pieces Ua arranged in the second direction Fb isthe same regardless of a position, but in the second modification of thesecond embodiment, the number of the thin wire pieces Ua arranged in thesecond direction Fb is different depending on a position. In thismanner, a distance between the two adjacent thin wire pieces Ua is notconstant in the second direction Fb. The distance between the adjacenttwo thin wire pieces Ub is not constant in the first direction Fa.

The detection electrode TDL according to the second modification of thesecond embodiment achieves the same effects as the detection electrodeTDL according to the second embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the thin wire piece Ua may have a part thatis not coupled to the thin wire piece Ub in the detection electrodeaccording to the second modification of the second embodiment.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a third embodiment. The detectionelectrode TDL according to the third embodiment includes the thin wirepieces Ua, the thin wire pieces Ub and thin wire pieces Uc, which extendso as to have parts where the coupling portions are connected to oneanother, on a plane parallel to the counter substrate 3. The thin wirepiece Ua extends in the first direction Fa, and the thin wire piece Ubextends in the second direction Fb. The thin wire piece Uc extends in athird direction Fc. The extending directions of the thin wire pieces Uaand Ub are different from each other. The extending direction of thethin wire piece Uc is different from the extending directions of thethin wire pieces Ua and Ub. Each of the thin wire pieces Ua and the thinwire pieces Ub is interposed among coupling portions TDC11, TDC12,TDC13, TDC15, TDC17 and TDC18. In other words, the detection electrodeTDL according to the third embodiment includes the thin conductive wiresthat have a zigzag shape or a waveform formed by the thin wire pieces Uaand the thin wire pieces Ub and that are folded at any one of thecoupling portions TDC11, TDC12, TDC13, TDC15, TDC17 and TDC18.Similarly, each of the thin wire pieces Ua and the thin wire pieces Ubis interposed among coupling portions TDC21, TDC23, TDC24, TDC25, TDC28,TDC29, TDC31 and TDC33. In the third embodiment, the dummy electrode isnot described, but the dummy electrode may be provided similarly to thefirst embodiment. The same reference numerals are denoted for the sameconstituent components as those described in the above-described firstand second embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will beomitted.

Since the thin wire pieces Ua extend in parallel to one another, and thethin wire pieces Ub also extend in parallel to one another, the thinwire piece Ua and the thin wire piece Ub intersect with each otherforming an angle θ1 there.

A distance Wa11 between a thin wire piece Ua and its adjacent thin wirepiece Ua is different from a distance Wa12 between the adjacent thinwire piece Ua and another thin wire piece Ua adjacent to the adjacentthin wire piece Ua. The distance between the adjacent two thin wirepieces Ua is not constant in the second direction Fb as can be seen fromthe distance Wa11, the distance Wa12, and a distance Wa13.

Similarly, a distance Wa21 between a thin wire piece Ua and its adjacentthin wire piece Ua is different from a distance Wa22 between theadjacent thin wire piece Ua and another thin wire piece Ua adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Ua. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Ua is not constant in the second direction Fb as can beseen from the distance Wa21, the distance Wa22, and a distance Wa23.

A distance Wb11 between a thin wire piece Ub and its adjacent thin wirepiece Ub is different from a distance Wb12 between the adjacent thinwire piece Ub and another thin wire piece Ub adjacent to the thin wirepiece Ua. The distance between the adjacent two thin wire pieces Ub isnot constant in the first direction Fa as can be seen from the distanceWb11 and the distance Wb12.

Similarly, a distance Wb21 between a thin wire piece Ub and its adjacentthin wire piece Ub is different from a distance Wb22 between theadjacent thin wire piece Ub and another thin wire piece Ub adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Ub. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Ub is not constant in the first direction Fa as can beseen from the distance Wb21 and the distance Wb22, and a distance Wb23.

A distance Wc11 between a thin wire piece Uc and its adjacent thin wirepiece Uc thereof is different from a distance Wc12 between the adjacentthin wire piece Uc and another thin wire piece Uc adjacent to theadjacent thin wire piece Uc. The distance between the adjacent two thinwire pieces Uc is not constant in the direction Da as can be seen fromthe distance Wc11, the distance Wc12 and a distance Wc13.

Similarly, a distance Wc21 between a thin wire piece Uc and its adjacentthin wire piece Uc is different from a distance Wc22 between theadjacent thin wire piece Uc and another thin wire piece Uc adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Uc. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Uc is not constant in the direction Da as can be seenfrom the distance Wc21, the distance Wc22, a distance Wc23, and adistance Wc24.

Similarly, a distance Wc31 between a thin wire piece Uc and its adjacentthin wire piece Uc is different from a distance Wc32 between theadjacent thin wire piece Uc and another thin wire piece Uc adjacent tothe adjacent thin wire piece Uc. The distance between the adjacent twothin wire pieces Uc is not constant in the direction Da like thedistance Wc31, the distance Wc32 and a distance Wc33.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the bright and dark pattern becomeshard to have a periodicity, thereby lowering the possibility that themoire is visible in the third embodiment. In the third embodiment,angles θ1, θ11, θ12 each of which is formed between the adjacent thinwire piece Ua and thin wire piece Ub are constant. Thus, when thevisible light is incident on the detection electrodes TDL, the lightintensity pattern in which light is diffracted or scattered by thedetection electrodes TDL becomes hard to spread. Thus, the lightintensity pattern tends to gather in six directions, and a constantdirectivity is likely to appear. Further, when a viewer directly tiltsthe detection device according to the third embodiment, it becomes easyto avoid forming an angle by which the light intensity pattern tends toappear. As a result, the light intensity pattern in which light isdiffracted or scattered by the detection electrodes TDL becomes hard tobe visible.

First Modification of Third Embodiment

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of arrangement of adetection electrode according to a first modification of the thirdembodiment. The same reference numerals are denoted for the sameconstituent components as those described in the above-described firstand second embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will beomitted.

In the detection electrode according to the third embodiment, differentthin wire pieces Uc are arranged on one straight line in the thirddirection Fc, but in the detection electrode according to the firstmodification of the third embodiment, different thin wire pieces Uc arenot arranged on a single straight line in the third direction Fc.

The detection electrode according to the first modification of the thirdembodiment achieves the same effects as the detection electrode TDLaccording to the second embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a fourth embodiment. In the first to thirdembodiments and the modifications thereof described above, the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10 is configured such that theliquid crystal display device 20 that employs a liquid crystal ofvarious modes such as FFS and IPS, and the detection device 30 areintegrated with each other. Alternatively, the display device with atouch detection function 10 according to the fourth embodimentillustrated in FIG. 23 may be configured such that a liquid crystal ofvarious modes such as twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), andelectrically controlled birefringence (ECB), and a touch detectiondevice are integrated with each other.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, but the present invention is not limited to those embodiments.The content disclosed in the embodiments is mere exemplary, and variousmodifications can be made within a range of not departing from the gistof the present invention. The appropriate modifications made within therange of not departing from the gist of the present invention alsobelong to the technical range of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a first modification of the fourth embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 24, a display device 4 is provided with a so-calledcommon electrode COM instead of the detection electrode TDL and thedrive electrode COML. A detection device 7 is provided with the driveelectrode COML extending on a plane parallel to a surface of a thirdsubstrate 71, and the detection electrode TDL extending on a surface ofa fourth substrate 72. The third substrate 71 and the fourth substrate72 are bonded to each other by an optical adhesive layer 73 or the likesuch that the detection electrode TDL and the drive electrode COMLoppose each other. The detection device 7 overlaps with the displaydevice 4 in a direction perpendicular to the fourth substrate 72, and isfixed by an optical adhesive layer 79 or the like. Accordingly, theabove-described display area Ad and the detection electrode TDL areoverlapped with each other in the direction perpendicular to the fourthsubstrate 72

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematiccross-sectional structure of a display device with a touch detectionfunction according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 25, the display device 4 is provided with theso-called common electrode COM instead of the detection electrode TDLand the drive electrode COML. The detection device 7 does not includethe drive electrode COML extending on the plane parallel to the surfaceof the third substrate 71, but only includes the detection electrode TDLextending on the surface of the fourth substrate 72. The third substrate71 and the fourth substrate 72 are bonded to each other by the opticaladhesive layer 73 or the like so as to protect the detection electrodeTDL. The detection device 7 overlaps with the display device 4 in thedirection perpendicular to the fourth substrate 72, and is fixed by theoptical adhesive layer 79 or the like. Accordingly, the above-describeddisplay area Ad and the detection electrode TDL overlap with each otherin the direction perpendicular to the fourth substrate 72. Theabove-described touch detection unit 40 detects the change in theself-capacitance of only the detection electrode TDL. The detectionelectrode TDL does not include the drive electrode COML, and thepotential difference is not generated therein, and thus, corrosionand/or migration of metal hardly occurs.

The detection electrodes TDL may be evenly arranged evenly like aplurality of islands. In this case, each of the detection electrodes TDLis electrically conducted with the touch detection unit 40. Further,positions of the island-like detection electrodes TDL in which thereoccurs the contact state or proximity state by the external proximityobject is detected by the touch detection unit 40 using the change inthe self-capacitance. The detection electrodes TDL extending on thesurface of the fourth substrate 72 have a double-layered structure inwhich the detection electrodes TDL oppose each other with an insulatinglayer interposed therebetween, and may be configured such that therespective detection electrodes TDL extend in two different directions.In this case, the touch detection unit 40 detects the change in theself-capacitance at an intersection, when seen in the plane view,between the detection electrodes TDL extending in the two differentdirections.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A detection device capable of detecting anexternal proximity object, the detection device comprising: a substrate;and a plurality of detection electrodes that are coupled to one anothervia a conducting portion, that extend in a plane parallel to a surfaceof the substrate, and that include a plurality of thin conductive wires,each of which has a plurality of first thin wire pieces and a pluralityof second thin wire pieces made of a metal material and each formed byconnecting a first end portion and a second end portion with a straightline, at least one of the first thin wire pieces and at least one of thesecond thin wire pieces being coupled to each other at a couplingportion such that the first thin wire pieces and the second thin wirepieces are electrically conducted with one another; at least one thinconductive wire serving as a dummy electrode that is not coupled to theconducting portion, that is arranged between a first detection areaincluding at least one of the thin conductive wires of the detectionelectrodes and a second detection area adjacent to the first detectionarea including at least one of the thin conductive wires of thedetection electrodes, and that includes the first thin wire pieces, thesecond thin wire pieces, and a plurality of slits without conductivityeach arranged between one of the first thin wire pieces and one of thesecond thin wire pieces, wherein the first thin wire pieces of one ofthe thin conductive wires of the detection electrodes and the first thinwire pieces of the at least one thin conductive wire of the dummyelectrode extend in parallel to one another in a first direction, thesecond thin wire pieces of one of the thin conductive wires of thedetection electrodes and the second thin wire pieces of the at least onethin conductive wire of the dummy electrode extend in parallel to oneanother in a second direction different from the first direction,wherein a first angle formed by an intersection between one of the firstthin wire pieces and one of the second thin wire pieces, which areincluded in each of the thin conductive wires of the detectionelectrodes, is constant, a second angle formed by an intersectionbetween an extension line of one of the first thin wire pieces and anextension line of one of the second thin wire pieces, which are includedin the at least one thin conductive wire of the dummy electrode, isconstant and the same as the first angle formed in the detectionelectrodes, and a distance between the first thin wire pieces ofdifferent thin conductive wires is not constant.
 2. The detection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein all angles formed by intersections betweenthe respective first thin wire pieces and the respective second thinwire pieces, which are included in the thin conductive wires included ineach of the detection electrodes, are constant.
 3. The detection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein a distance, between adjacent first thinwire pieces of different thin conductive wires among the thin conductivewires included in each of the detection electrodes, is random.
 4. Thedetection device according to claim 1, wherein, a length of a straightline connecting the first end portion of each of the first thin wirepieces and the second end portion of each of the first thin wire piecesis not constant.
 5. The detection device according to claim 1, whereinthe thin conductive wires include the first thin wire pieces and thesecond thin wire pieces which are electrically conducted with oneanother, in adjacent first thin conductive wire and second thinconductive wire among the thin conductive wires, one of the first thinwire pieces of the first thin conductive wire has a length of a straightline connecting the first end portion and the second end portiondifferent from a length of a straight line connecting the first endportion and the second end portion of one of the first thin wire piecesof the second thin conductive wire, and the other first thin wire piecesof the first thin conductive wire and the other first thin wire piecesof the second thin conductive wire have a same length of a straight lineconnecting the first end portion and the second end portion.
 6. Thedetection device according to claim 1, wherein a distance betweenadjacent second thin wire pieces of different thin conductive wires isnot constant.
 7. The detection device according to claim 6, wherein, inthe adjacent second thin wire pieces of the different thin conductivewires, a length of a straight line connecting the first end portion ofeach of the second thin wire pieces and the second end portion of eachof the second thin wire pieces is not constant.
 8. The detection deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the thin conductive wires include thefirst thin wire pieces and the second thin wire pieces which areelectrically conducted with one another, in adjacent first thinconductive wire and second thin conductive wire among the thinconductive wires, one of the second thin wire pieces of the first thinconductive wire has a length of a straight line connecting the first endportion and the second end portion different from a length of a straightline connecting the first end portion and the second end portion of oneof the second thin wire pieces of the second thin conductive wire, andthe other second thin wire pieces of the first thin conductive wire andthe other second thin wire pieces of the second thin conductive wirehave a same length of a straight line connecting the first end portionand the second end portion.
 9. The detection device according to claim1, wherein the coupling portion is a bent portion between each of thefirst thin wire pieces and each of the second thin wire pieces.
 10. Thedetection device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling portion isan intersection between each of the first thin wire pieces and each ofthe second thin wire pieces, and the detection electrodes are shapedlike a mesh.
 11. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein thedetection electrode includes a plurality of third thin wire pieces madeof a metal material and each formed by connecting a first end portionand a second end portion with a straight line, and each of the thirdthin wire pieces extends in a direction different from the firstdirection and the second direction, and is coupled to and electricallyconducted with at least one of the first thin wire pieces or the secondthin wire pieces at a coupling portion.
 12. The detection deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of drive electrodesthat form capacitance with the detection electrodes and apply a drivesignal.
 13. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein a changein self-capacitance only in the detection electrode is detected.
 14. Adisplay device comprising: a detection device which is capable ofdetecting an external proximity object, the detection device including asubstrate, and a plurality of detection electrodes that are coupled toone another via a conducting portion, that extend in a plane parallel toa surface of the substrate, and that include a plurality of thinconductive wires each of which has a plurality of first thin wire piecesand a plurality of second thin wire pieces made of a metal material andeach formed by connecting a first end portion and a second end portionwith a straight line, at least one of the first thin wire pieces and atleast one of the second thin wire pieces being coupled to each other ata coupling portion such that the first thin wire pieces and the secondthin wire pieces are electrically conducted with one another; at leastone thin conductive wire serving as a dummy electrode that is notcoupled to the conducting portion, that is arranged between a firstdetection area including at least one of the thin conductive wires ofthe detection electrodes and a second detection area adjacent to thefirst detection area including at least one of the thin conductive wiresof the detection electrodes, and that includes the first thin wirepieces, the second thin wire pieces, and a plurality of slits withoutconductivity each arranged between one of the first thin wire pieces andone of the second thin wire pieces; and a display area in which aplurality of pixels each of which is configured of a plurality of colorareas are arranged in a matrix on a plane parallel to the surface of thesubstrate, wherein the first thin wire pieces of one of the thinconductive wires of the detection electrodes and the first thin wirepieces of the at least one thin conductive wire of the dummy electrodeextend in parallel to one another in a first direction, the second thinwire pieces of one of the thin conductive wires of the detectionelectrodes and the second thin wire pieces of the at least one thinconductive wire of the dummy electrode extend in parallel to one anotherin a second direction different from the first direction, a first angleformed by an intersection between one of the first thin wire pieces andone of the second thin wire pieces, which are included in each of thethin conductive wires of the detection electrodes, is constant, a secondangle formed by an intersection between an extension line of one of thefirst thin wire pieces and an extension line of one of the second thinwire pieces, which are included in the at least one thin conductive wireof the dummy electrode, is constant and the same as the first angleformed in the detection electrodes, a distance between the first thinwire pieces of different thin conductive wires is not constant, andwherein the display area and the detection electrode overlap with eachother in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.
 15. The displaydevice according to claim 14, wherein, when a direction in which a colorarea with a highest human visibility among the color areas is arrangedis set as a pixel array direction, a maximum length of a single pixel ina pixel orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the pixel arraydirection on the plane parallel to the surface of the substrate is setas a first unit length, and a maximum length of the single pixel in adirection parallel to the pixel array direction is set as a second unitlength, each of the first thin wire pieces or each of the second thinwire pieces extends in a direction so as to have an angle with respectto the pixel array direction, a tangent of the angle is in a range ofvalues larger than a value obtained by dividing the first unit length bytwice the second unit length, and smaller than a value obtained bydividing twice the first unit length by the second unit length, and isdifferent from a value obtained by dividing the first unit length by thesecond unit length.
 16. The display device according to claim 15,wherein a value of an integer multiple of the first unit length and avalue of an integer multiple of the second unit length are 3 or larger.17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein a differencebetween the value of the integer multiple of the first unit length andthe value of the integer multiple of the second unit length is
 1. 18.The display device according to claim 14, further comprising: aplurality of pixel electrodes that are provided in the display area; aplurality of drive electrodes that are provided to oppose the pixelelectrodes; a control device that applies a display drive voltagebetween the pixel electrodes and the drive electrodes based on an imagesignal; the detection electrodes that oppose the drive electrodes; and adetection unit coupled to the detection electrodes, wherein the controldevice selects and scans a drive electrode to supply a drive signalamong the drive electrodes, and enables the detection unit to detect theexternal proximity object using a change in capacitance of the detectionelectrode.